Nilpotency of alternative and Jordan algebras (Q2221972)

The well known theorem due to Nagata, Higman, and Dubnov and Ivanov, states that if \(A\) is an associative algebra over a field \(F\) of characteristic 0, and if \(A\) satisfies the identity \(x^n=0\) then \(A\) is nilpotent. It is also well known that the same conclusion holds if \(F\) is of characteristic \(p>n\). A variety of algebras (associative or not) is called almost nilpotent if it is not nilpotent but every proper subvariety is nilpotent. The description of almost nilpotent varieties is closely related to finding systems of polynomial identities that imply nilpotence. It follows from the Nagata-Higman theorem that, for associative algebras in characteristic 0, the only almost nilpotent variety is that of the commutative algebras. If \(F\) is infinite but of positive characteristic \(p\) one has to add the identity \(x^p=0\) to the commutativity law. The description of the almost nilpotent varieties of associative algebras is also known over a finite field. If one considers nonassociative algebras the situation becomes rather difficult. In the case of Lie algebras over a field of characteristic 0, a famous theorem of [\textit{E. I. Zel'manov}, Sib. Math. J. 29, No. 5, 777--781 (1988; Zbl 0673.17006); translation from Sib. Mat. Zh. 29, No. 5(171), 112--117 (1988)] states that any \(n\)-Engel Lie algebra is nilpotent. This theorem implies that the only almost nilpotent variety in characteristic 0 is the metabelian variety of Lie algebras. The paper under review studies almost nilpotent varieties of alternative and of Jordan algebras. The author gives a description of the almost nilpotent soluble varieties of alternative algebras; if the base field is of characteristic 0, he describes all almost nilpotent varieties. Also in characteristic 0 the author describes the almost nilpotent varieties of Jordan algebras. Such a description is based on his theorem 5.1 which is a criterion for nilpotency of Jordan algebras. It states that if a Jordan algebra satisfies the identity \(x^n=0\) and \(St_m(x_1,\ldots, x_m)=0\) then it is nilpotent. Upper bounds of the nilpotency index is also given.